“Living with HIV today is like living with diabetes” is a popular talking point among many HIV/AIDS Service Organization (ASO) Case Managers, Physicians, and HIV/AIDS Educators. Since 1996, Active Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) medications have proven to suppress HIV-virus levels to undetectable levels and lengthen lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS.
A well-intended effort has been made to diminish the stigma and fears associated with living with HIV by equating treating HIV to that of those living with diabetes. Unfortunately, ASO’s have become increasingly complacent in their outreach to the HIV/AIDS community, largely because of their inability to differentiate what it’s like living with HIV/AIDS vs. diabetes. Long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS continue to battle-related health conditions such as numerous cancers, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy in spite of having an undetectable viral load.
Here are five compelling reasons why living with HIV/AIDS isn’t like diabetes.
  • Legal:  People with HIV can be incarcerated for having HIV. 67 laws in 33 states criminalize behaviors associated with HIV exposure in the US. There are no current laws in the US which criminalize diabetes.
  • Medical:  HIV/AIDS patients must always take antiretroviral medications to maintain an undetectable level of HIV virus in their bloodstream. 15-20% of those with Type 2 diabetes were able to stop taking medications after a regimen of exercise and diet reduced their blood sugar to pre-diabetes levels.
  • Cost:  The average per capita medication expenditure for those treated with HIV/AIDS ranges from $14,000-$20,000 compared to around $3,000 for those with diabetes. Especially with secondary market vendors who buy and sell test strips for way below pharmacy prices.
  • Social:  Those living with HIV face stigma, discrimination, and marginalization in many aspects of life that those living with diabetes will never experience.
  • Travel:  63 countries currently impose travel restrictions on those living with HIV/AIDS. There is no known country which denies entry to a person with diabetes.
While ART has dramatically improved the life expectancy of those living with HIV/AIDS, ASO and healthcare providers continue to perpetuate the myth of living with HIV/AIDS is like living with diabetes. It’s not. They believe spreading this myth reduces stigma and increases drug adherence, however, the effects have been paradoxical.
Only 40% of the people with HIV/AIDS in the US are currently cared for by a physician and only 30% of all people with HIV/AIDS have undetectable levels of the virus. Complicating the issue is malignant complacency and local bureaucracy of HIV/AIDS ASO’s which can worsen administrative barriers to those attempting to receive copay assistance for medications. It can take weeks just to get an intake appointment with some ASO’s, which is often followed by poor aftercare from case managers.
No, HIV isn’t like diabetes. Such claims cannot be made until legal, medical, cost, social, and travel barriers to those living with HIV/AIDS are removed.